Fountain Hills Community Garden
May 2022 Newsletter
FYI - FHCG board is taking a well deserved summer vacation and will not be meeting for the month of June and July. We will resume meeting in August and the Newsletter will follow our monthly meetings. Thanks for everyones watchful eyes at the garden, as we all enjoy our summer!
CLASSES SPONSORED BY THE FOUNTAIN HILLS COMMUNITY GARDEN
HEALING FOOD SERIES:
Please join us for the following classes at our Garden Pavilion, at 10:000 am the first Saturday of the following months::
MAY 7th with DEBBIE ELDER
"Spice it up with Peppers"
(Recipes will be posted on our Facebook page afterwards)
JUNE 4th with DEBBIE ROMANO (Stay tuned and look for notifications on our website and bulletin board)
THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS FOR YOUR AMAZING DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN, WE ARE AN AWESOME TEAM!
www.fountainhillscommunitygarden
GARDEN TIPS FOR THE MONTH:
Irrigation issues continue to be an issue at the garden, please test your manual setting each time you are in the garden to check for leaks and monitor any water issues. Many hands make light work and saves on the garden water bill. PLEASE ask Joy or Rita for help, if you need us, we are usually available.
Shade cloths for each garden bed will be placed at each bed in mid May. The cloths will block out 50% of the sun rays, but it is the West sun that does the most damage, so pull your cloths more to the West side of your beds. The Garden Managers advise that the cloths go on when 100 degree digits are here to stay!
How To Use Coffee Grounds To Power Your Garden, Annuals & Perennials:
Did you know that when you use coffee grounds in your vegetable garden, it can help to power your plants like never before?
The same can be said for putting them in flowerbeds, hanging baskets and container plants as well. And while on the subject, they also happen to be pretty terrific in a compost pile too.
In fact, when it comes to helping out just about any living plant or organism, coffee grounds rock! Who knew the by-product of such a popular morning beverage has so much value beyond waking us up?
Invite Ladybugs to your gardens! They will really help your garden to stay healthy, they eat 1000's of bugs and larvae.
Please see attached list of nutrients needed for certain leaf deficiencies.
HELP NEEDED:
BOARD MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES - Volunteers are needed, if interested for our Garden Board. Please reach out if interested.
COFFEE GROUND PICK UP -Volunteers are needed to pick up coffee grounds from Starbucks. Please sign up here on Sign Up Genius. We have depleted our coffee grounds. It is time to replenish. The garden can use your help. Thank you to all that have signed up thus far!
VIDEO PHOTOGRAPER -A volunteer is needed to help film our cooking classes. We don't need an expert, but would like someone with experience. Please let one of the garden managers know if you are interested.
GARDEN DOCENTS - Volunteers are needed to assist with events at the garden. Please let one of the garden managers know if you are interested.
TRASH - Volunteers are needed to assist with weekly trash take out on Thur and return on Fri. Please see our Sign-up Genius on our website. Thank you!
Garden Lending Library
Don't forget to check out the new Lending Library at the garden! Located next to the shed on the north end of the garden, the lending library is now available to our garden members.
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Please pull out the library card inside each book you are interested in borrowing
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Put the date, your name, and phone number on the card
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Put the filled out card into the clear plastic basket
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When you return the book, take the card back out of the basket, and place it back into the book jacket
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Please be considerate of the library by returning books promptly and not overborrowing
Thank you so much Joy Hubbard for this wonderful idea!
COMPOST REMINDERS:
PLEASE USE THE SHREDDER TO CHOP DOWN ITEMS OVER 1 INCH IN DIAMETER. CHOP VINES DOWN INTO SMALLER SECTIONS, DO NOT RUN VINES THROUGH THE SHREDDER BECAUSE THE VINES WILL WRAP AROUND THE BLADE AND JAM THE EQUIPMENT. To use:
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Flip on the switch
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Lift up the paddle
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Insert vegetation
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Use paddle to push it through
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DO NOT FORCE (OR) OVER LOAD THE VEGATATION. TAKE YOUR TIME AND FEED SLOWLY.
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If you jam the shredder, call me
602-692-1183 Joy
Vegetation breaks down best if it is chopped down into one to two inch pieces. Please be mindful of what you are depositing into the compost bins and take a moment to chop it down. We are all responsible for taking care of the compost. Please don’t dump a bunch of stuff and walk away.---- “DUMP IT AND CHOP IT.”
Last but not least, we have the hand chopper – I brought it home to get it really sharp, so, be careful. This is an alternative to the shredder above. If you are adding large items to the compost, i.e. vines or thick items, take a moment to break it down into smaller pieces. This will be your aerobic workout….. and aggression therapy tool. If you can’t chop it don’t leave it.
Thank you for reading this important message.
From Garden Board Manager - Joy Hubbard
Garden Appreciation:
Thank you to the FH Rotory club for moving the round river rock at our south side entrance gate to our now beautiful dry river bed.
Soon there will be a new road entrance for our truck deliveries on the East side of the GARDEN. The jog on El Lago into the garden is going away and a new entrance into the parking lot should be complete by the end of June.
VOLUNTEERS, Desert Landscaping Team and TEAM VEGGIE Food Bank beds, Coffee ground pick-up and Trash duty. Utilize our Sign-Up Genius for weeding, raking, taking out the trash bins, and always being willing to help keep our garden neat and tidy. You are all greatly appreciated by your Garden Managers and fellow garden members!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR THE SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN, WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS!
Thank you to Ginny Dickey & Pat Reid for your donations in memory of Ginny Lapenta. thanks in advance for the generous donations of 2 more beautiful garden benches. Thanks to John Brodhun family and FH Herb Society!!!
MISC INFORMATION :
DARK SKY UPDATE:
There was a soil dig on 4-14-22 to help with foundation evaluations. There was 1 in the garden, 1 outside the garden. This is to complete their estimates for building cost, due in Nov. They originally had approved by the Town a 14K sft facility and now they have decided to build a 22K sft facility. The must go through the permit process again, due to the changes. They need approximately $25m (+ or -) and are currently 12% funded. This is information as we know of today.
Extended Hands Food Bank
The food bank truly appreciates our fresh vegetables, please don't let your food go to waste. Support our local food bank instead!
Custom-made Garden Tool Boxes
Scott Hill, one of the garden's board members is building garden tool boxes for beds as well as other garden products and coffee. If you would like to purchase a box, please visit his website. The boxes that should be purchased for the community garden are made of redwood. All plant boxes should be sealed with a clear poly sealer by their owner. Please see Rita or Scott if you have if you have any questions.
Signup Genius
We always have volunteer opportunities at the garden. Click on the links below --- You will be able to see information related to upcoming volunteer needs. You may review the schedule, then signup for the slots that work for you; or you may exit at anytime.
If you are interested in helping out or have more questions, contact Joy via email at joyanneh@cox.net.
3 Sign UP Genius Campaigns for Garden Volunteers:
1. Compost- Garden Membership 2021: Garden Compost Helpers (signupgenius.com)
2. Trash- Garden Membership 2021: TAKE OUT THE TRASH (signupgenius.com)
3. Coffee Ground Pick-up - Garden Membership 2021: Coffee Grounds Pick Up Team (signupgenius.com)
3. Garden Maintenance - email joy at joyanneh@cox.net
Garden Managers Contact Information
Rita Applegate: (816) 896-8507
Joy Hubbard: (602) 692-1183
Mark Dalton: (480) 390-7255
If you need to speak to a garden manager, please use the contact information above. Thank you.
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